Radial trailing truck.



Patentd' .gine 9 EN @.1 .www

W. A. AUSTIN.

RADIAL TRAILING TRUCK. APPLIoATIoN FILED rm. zfgngm. 1,099,333.

W. A. AUSTIN.

RADIAL TRAILING TRUCK. APPLIOATION FILED NJB. 2,1914.

. Patented June 9,

Vw. A. AUSTIN.

RADIAL TRAILING TBUOK.,

. APPLICATION FILED FBB.2,1914. 1,099,333. Patented June 9,1914 V 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. A. AUSTIN.

RADIAL TRAILING TRUCK.

APPLICATION IILBD 1333.2, 1914 Patented June 9, 1914 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

WMM/MM 1 772 3 ".wwmfov 55150' mmm ne, m a

www Mfw-@ UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE.

WILLIAM Ar AUSTIN, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO `LIMA. LOCOMOTIVE CrOIRlO'RA".lIOIil'i` OF` LIMA., 0R10, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

:Minuit` maitrise Tavoli.

`Speciilmaitioii of Letters Patent.

Application led February 2, 1914. Serial No. 815,885.

`and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Radial` Trailing Trucks, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part o the same.

This invention relates to certain improve` ments in trailing-trucks which support the rear endsof locomotives and which must adapt themselves to irregularities of track-` conditions.

TheV object of the invention is to furnish improved connections fr the springs over the journal-bearings in the i trailing-truck for transmitting the load from such journalbcariiigs and for equalizing the weight car-` ried by the truck with `the weight carried by the locomotive-drivers. The springs are connected to the equalizing-bar by a cradle and double-jointed links of peculiar construction, which furnish a. means by which the force of gravity tends to keep the truck centralized, and special means for steadying the swinging motie-n of the truck by each of the swinging links. A similar loosely swinging cradle is connected by hangers with the rear ends of `the springs, and by other jointed connections with a bracket rigidly attached to the maimframe-bars of the locomotive, the bracket serving as a weightsupporting element which .transmits the load to the springs. The journal-bearings are fitted to the axle outside of the wheels which in turn lie outside/of the main-frame, and the truck-frame is constructed to extend outside of the truck-wheels to carry the journab boxes. The equalizing-bars, which` connect the driver-springswith the springs over. the truck-wheels, leon. the line of the mainframe and thus inside the line of the truckwheels, and the mechanism for controlling the movements of the truck and 'the operation of the trucksprings thus partly lies outside and partly inside of` the wheels.` and provides `ample means for operating the truck upon both curved and straight por-` tions of the railway line.

The inventionwill 'be `understood by the following description y and drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation of the rear PatentedJime 9, `1914..`

end of the locomotive with the trailer-truck; l

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same parts; Fig. v is a side view, and Fig. 4 an end view of the bracket which supports the rear end of ,the truck-springs. Fig 5 is an edge` view, and Figf a face view upon an enlarged scale of the main-frame-bar and the pivot-bearing;

for the equalizing-bar. Fig. 7 is a plan of the' rear cradle for connecting the track? springs to the bracket; and Fig. 8 shows .the

left-hand half of the cradle `connected to the i spring and bracket, the parts being in, seo tion where hatched at the center line of the bracket. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the dou-l hal of the cradle for connecting the fori ble-'ointed link; Fig. `10 shows the left-hand ward ends of the truck-springs to an equal- 'izingbarand the driver-springs. Figs. 1 1

and .12 show the effects of lateral motion on the truck,

audesignates the main-frame of the `locomotlve, and a eXtensionrame-bars extend-` ed backward over the radial-truck. The liiebox a2 is supported upon the radiiil` truck by the platesa". The bars a.` are connected by a cross-tie b and a bumper b', and thepweight-supporting bracket c also `connects the frame-bars at the rear portion of` the truck. The truck has sidebars d and radius-bars d connected to a pivot-piece d? which is pivoted to the cross-tie b by bolt d1'. The rear ends'of the side-bars are connected by a cross-piece d3, and theside-barsare diyided where the journabboxes fareapplied, and the front and rear sections ofthe side-bars are connected to ilanges f upon` side frame-members which receive the boxes. Pedestal-ties c2. connect the 'aws c` of the side frame-members which iorm pedestals for the journal-noxes and retaineachnf the boxes f 1n place in the frame-meinbers. The 1 side frame-members connect the `front and rear sections d, d of` the side'bars in` dependently of the .pedestal-ties c2, so that the latter can be removed for the purpose of changing the boxes in the pedestals without disconnecting any other parts. Above the journal-bearing the rame-meinbers 'have lateral cheelcsor `flanges f between` which the spring] is itted with considerable lat# eral clearance, asshown in Figs.` 1 and 1.0, and the strap Z2 ofthe spring is rounded upon `its vertical sides so. that the spring` may swing between the checks #when the truckis turning curves, within limits controlledby said cheeks. `Theloottom of the strapjl2 fits .a recess in the top of the pedestal to hold the spring from end-movement.

' The side-bars d extend outside of the wheels 5 e to carryk the outside journal-boxes f, thetruck-wheels e lying `outside of the framebars the Vsame as the main-,drivers .g1 Thev axle lz, of the drivers is carried by journals boxes i to which the forked strap j trans-` 19 mits'the load upon thespring 7a. The rear end ofthe driver-spring 7c is connected by link lc to the forwardy end of the equalizingbar: o. The ends of the truck-springs are Y connected with `two` ,loatingljvcradles' which p hang upon the ends of the springs; and have a looseY jointed connection, at their rear ends,

` witharigid bracketfuponthe frame af, and

'atthe front end with. the drlver equahzmgy-baznf Y Y n' h-f The rear ends of the truck-springs Z,

whicha're omitted in Fig. 2 to show the ends of the cradles, are connectedby hangers .Zf

with the rear cradle m which extends from the center line of one of the truck-springs to v the center line of the other, and vis connected by double-jointed links to the rigid frame- 'bracket c; VThe upper and lowerl portions of the linksare united by joint-pins 01,2,"and the lower end'n of the linkhas anenlargement Y 80 ,n3 bearing upon the lower side of a socket 71 upon the bottom of theI bracket'qand hav# ',ingsegmental spherical shape to rock'freely in s'aidsocket. The upper half ofthe link-is forked, as shown in Fig. 9, to embraceV the Sti/'opposite sides of the cradle m', ,and `itsV .cheeks'are'formed with heart-shapedv slots p to lfit upon twoj adjacent fulcrum-'pins p at each side-of the bracket, to permit a rocking motionof the link thereon. The joint n2 of l 4 0 the links is vat'frig'ht-angles tothe joint ofv Y the endnwith the cradle, thus permitting free'bending :in every direction,` and the vspherical joint connection upon the link-end n, or equalizing-baro forms a pivotal con- 4lnecti'. which permits the connected parts A toch nge'their angle to one another.` The links/'swing loosely on the springsand both cradlesare connected'to'the linksin a similar i manner, and form therewith a floating con- Y nection'to the equalizing system on the rigid linksn-, the enlargement n3 upon the lower end ofthe link being engaged witha'socket 1" upon the rear end of the equaliZing-bar o, v. which is pivoted beneath the main-frame in a bracket o. Aloop-shaped strap u .(see

' truck-frame to Fig.1)rencircles Vcradle m, and .such a strap is attached to eachzof the frame-bars a" Y to prevent such ,cradle from fallingiupon the track if the connections become detached.

The springsupon the,` truck yarethus Vconnected by freely swinging links with the main-frame-bars a, throughthebracket c;

direct engagement V of double-jointed s' links with their rear ends.

tions such as. described permitsv the 'utmost freedom yof movement inthe truckV beneath the locomotive-frame.V 'The' connection of Aand with the main equalizing-levers o'by y Y j c f The use of lthe'-floating:cradles atV both l rends ofthe springs,- with flexible connec-` l;

the double-jointed links Vwith, the cradle m or m bytwo adjacenti'fulcrum-pins p per-` Vmits and Ecausesy theY link, when` the cradle moves endwise, to tip clear from oneof'the pins and transfers the entire loadY toftheV other pin, asv shown in Figg'l2. The effectY of' gravity is to strainthe link n, n', back'to Y a vertical position as soon as the line of railway' track permits; the same, beingtrue'fof both cradles, although the rear-cradle has much more longitudinal movement than the" forward cradle, .asl it is fartherfrom .the j An auxiliary spring-centering devicecon- Y `sistingofsprings g, cupssV fitted ,toV their: i,

ends," and a lug t fastened to the vrearY of the press againstthe cups, is

shown vin Figs. l and 2;' but this device'is not essentiall to the operation of the truck.

From the `abovedescription'itwill beobf Vserved that when Vpassing curved portions of the trackjthe truck-wheelse swing sidewise; 'l

in a radial manner controlledfbyl the pivoted end d2 of the radius bars, land in so swing-Y journalboxes thereon. y The V*pedestal VVorV frames for the boxes being permanently fasj tened to thetruck-frames d thus carry-the entire' Heating structure in ,thev swingingY Vmotion described, vand -move .Y the springs `ZV nog :somewhat 'from' their Ynormal position.l `The l endsv of the. springs, attached Vby springf Y hangers Z to the swinging cradles m, m, v

tend V`to carry these swingingvcradles ywith themv asY far YVas the restraining influence lofi 'the swinging-vdoubleejointed links will allow.v

The `rear swinging cradle m hasthatpor through the swinging llinks to the'weightsupporting bracket@ at the; rear of the truck,r.

A lThe frontswinging cradle. mV has that portion of the load gwhichpit'carries transferred through 'thefswinginglinks tol the equalizing-bars which connectthe vtion ofthe load which it? carries transferred 'l and so ultimatelyto the locomotiveframe- 1 Y barsa;V

truck-weight1carrying,mechanism with the l weight-carrying mechanism ofthe locomotive and findsits support in the fulcrums i0 attached to the locomotive frame-bars, a balancing effect from the other end ofthe bars Y ing Carry Vwith them the Vaxle `ewith Vthe '1705i Y incassa o equalizing the weight carried by the truck with the weight carried by the locomotive drivers. When passing again to a straight track, the truck-equalizing mechanism ad Vjusts itself centrally by the edects of gravity, with or without the aid of a spring centering device, and the truck-wheels thus come again into alinement with the driving wheels of the locomotive.

It will be noted that the straps Z2 of the springs Z are only restrained from movement by the plates f2 of the side frame members, and that they are thus allowed a certain amount of swinging movement to accommodate the radial rotations of the front and back swinging cradles. (See Fig. 11.)

The relative fore and aft movement of the sides of the truck is taken up by the combined swinging movement of the swinghangers Z and the lower portion a of the double-jointed links. The twisting effects due to radial fore and aft variations are taken up by the spherical ends of the swinging links n, n.

The cradles, in their arrangement and operation diifer from anyI of the cross-bars heretofore used in the 'equalizing mechanism of radial trucks, as neither of them is rigidly attached to the frame-bars of the locomotive and neither of them is restricted to a mere vertical or longitudinal movement, but both are floating cradles, and either one of them is free to move in any direction that their links or connections may permit, and such movement also operates to slightly raise the load imposed upon the trucksprings, so that the load itself produces a direct and immediate tendency to re-center the truck, when a straight track is reached.

From the above description it is evident that the cont-rolling mechanism of the truck is located both inside and outsideof the truck-wheels, so that while the truck journalbearings are outside of the wheels with the advantage of leaving the space below the fire-box open, the connection may beI made with the equalizing-bars under the ,mainframe-bars of the locomotive, without employing any diagonally arranged equalizingbars.

By suspending the cradles from the front and rear ends of the springs by the hangers Z', universal couplings may be extended from any point in their length to equalizing-bars under the main-rame-bars, approximately in line with the equalizing system on the locomotive frames.

1t will be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular constructive forms shown in the drawing, as two brackets may be provided upon the' frame-bars a ,instead of the single load-supporting bracket c which is shown in Fig. 2,-such bracket or brackets serving as the final load-carrying fulcrum at the rear end of the truck, and constituting the final element of the equalizmg-gear for the entire spring-supporting system, in which all the equalizmg-levers or bars may be disposed on a line with the main-frame bars of the locomotive, as shown in the -drawings. Such disposition of the equalizmg-bars makes them parallel with one another and avoids the use of oblique mountings and connections with theV 1ncreased expense thereof.

An auxiliary centering device is not claimed herein as it forms no part of the present invention, but can be applied when desirable.

The particular construction of the trailer truck-frame is immaterial, as well as the means by which it is connected with the pedestals, and other constructive features may bemodified provided the essential elements of the invention are employed, which are pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

Great, advantages may be secured by this construction, as the wheels and axles are removable with the journal-boxes by releasing the pedestal-ties c2, thus facilitating repair or replacement.

All parts, excepting wheels, axles and journal-brasses can be standardized and used for all the trailer-trucks upon a given railroad; thus permitting diverse wheels, axles and journal-brasses to be used, by providing them with suitable journal-boxes to fit the standard pedestals upon the side frame-- members of the truck.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention what is claimed herein is:

1. In a trailing truck, the combination, with a truck-frame pivoted to the frame of a locomotive and having wheels and an axle, with journal-boxes outside of such wheels, of springs mounted upon the truck-frame above the journal-boxes, a fulcrum-bracket attached to the locomotive-frame near the rear end of the truck-frame, means connecting the forward ends of the springs with the equalizing system of the locomotive, and means connecting the rear ends of the springs with the fulcrum-bracket between the locomotive frame-bars.

2. In a radial trailing truck, the combination, with a truck frame pivoted to the locomotive-frame bars, of pedestals fitted to the truck-frame, journal-boxes fitted therein, wheels having an axle fitted to the boxes, springs over the Ijournal-boxes, and two Afioating cradles having swinging connections to the front and rear ends respectively of the springs and swinging connections also to the mainframe and to the equalizing-bar, the swinging connections to the springs being outside of the truck-wheels and the swinging connections to the main-frame being inside of the truck-wheels, so as to di- .vide the total swing between the various swinging connections and thus reduce the angular stress upon eachA particular member.

v3. In a trailing-truck, the combination, with the locomotive-frame, of a truck-frame pivoted thereto and having side-bars divided and side.V frame-members provided with anges f fitted between such side-bars and secured .to the same, such side-frame members having jaws projected below, divided frame-members forming pedestals open at the bottom, and provided with pedestal-ties connected to suchy jaws and movable therefrom without disconnectingl any other parts of the truck.v

4. In a trailing-truck, the combination,

. with the locomotive-frame, of a truck-frame pivoted thereto and having side-bars divided, and yside frame members provided with flanges f fitted to such side-bars and secured to the same, such side frame-members having jaws fitted to journal-boxes outside of the truck-wheels, such jaws forming pedestals open at the bottom and provided with j pedestalties connected to such jaws and removable therefrom independent of all other parts of the truck, whereby the axles and wheels can be removed from the truck without detaching the side-frame-members from the frame-bars.

5. In a radial trailing-truck, thecombination, with a truck-frame pivoted to the locomotive-frame, of pedestals fitted to the truckframe, journal-boxes fitted therein, wheels having an axle fitted to the boxes, springs over the journal-boxes, and two fioating cradles having swinging connections to the front and rear `ends respectively of' the springs and swinging connections also to the main-frame and to the equaliZing-bars,

l wherebyT the radial, fore-and-aft and. twisting `mot-ions of the cradles are divided among the various connections.

6. In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, witha truck-frame pivotedto thc locomotive-frame, of pedestals fitted to the truck-frame outside of the truck-wheels and holding journal-boxes removably, springs.

over the journal-boxes, and two floating cradles having swinging-connections tothe front and rear ends of the said springs and also to the main-frame and to the equaiizingbar, `whereby both cradles are permitted to move endwise when the truck passes around curves. c

7. In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, with a truck-frame pivoted to the locomotive-irame, of'side frame-members insorted in the side-bars of such truck-frame and having jaws forming pedestals open at the bottom with pedestal-ties connecting such jaws, and having lateral cheeks with springs fitted between the same, two fioating cradles provided with equalizing connections, and the springs having sufiicient clearance between the ylateral cheeks to swing within limits controlled by .said cheeks and thus reducek the radial variations in the component members of the said connections which allow the truck to change its alinement from the alinementof thelocomotive driving-wheels.

8.- In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, with a truck-framepivoted to the locomotive-frame, of pedestals fittedV to the*V truck frame, journal boxes fitted therein,

wheels having an' axle fitted to the boxes,A

springs over the journal-boxes, and two floating lcradles arranged respectively at the front and rear of the truck-wheels, swinginghangers connecting lthe same to the ends of the truck-springs, and swinging-links connected to the cradles byitransverse :pivots and jointed intermediate to `their ends by pivots at right-angles to those in the cradles, to allow fore and aft,V transverse and twistingmovements to be taken vup by the springs, spring-hangers, floating cradles and swing-` ing-links. i

9. In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, with a truck-frame pivoted to the locomotive-frame, of pedestals fitted tothe I truck-frame withjournal-boxes therein and Y axles and wheels fitted thereto, floating cradles arranged at the front and rear of the wheels, hangers connecting the springs `with the cradles, a fulcrum-bracket attached to the locomotive-frame near the rear cradle, and swinging-links connecting the Vcradle with the bracket to allow the exble supporting of the weight at the final supporting fulcrum upon the rear of the truck.

l0. In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, with the truck-frame pivoted to the locomotive-frame, of `pedestals with open bottom fitted to thetruck-frame, journalboxes fitted removably to such pedestals, and

kaxles vand wheelsmounted in said journalboxes, springs mounted upon the pedestals and having a limited swinging motion thereon, two floating cradles arranged at the Y front and rear of the wheels, spring-hangers connecting the ends of the'springs withthe' ends of the cradles, and swinging-links 'connecting the cradles to the equalizing system on a line with the main-frame of the locomotive.

11. In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, with the truck-frame pivoted to the locomotive-frame, of pedestals with open bottom fitted to the .truck-frame, journalboxes fitted removably to such pedestals, and axles and wheels mounted in said journalboxes, springs .mounted upon the .pedestals and having a limited swinging motion thereon, two floating cradles arranged at the front and rear of the wheels, spring-hangers connecting the ends of the springs with the ends of the cradles, and swinging-links connecting the cradles to the equalizing system on a line with the main-trame of the locomotive, the forward cradle being` allowed free vertical movement and also transverse movement controlled by the hangers and swinging-links connecting the cradle to the equalizing system.

12. In a radial trailing-truck, the combination, with the truck-frame ivoted to the locomotive-frame, of pedesta s with open bottom fitted to the truck-frame, journalboxes tted removably to such pedestals, and wheels with axles mounted in said journalboxes, springs mounted upon the pedestals and havin a limited swinging motion thereon, two oatin cradles arranged at the front and rear o the wheels, spring-hangers connecting the ends of the springs with the ends of the cradles, and swinging-links connecting the cradles to the equalizing system on a line with the main-frame of the locomotive, the forward' cradle being allowed free vertical movement and `also permitted transverse movement controlled by the hangers and swinging-links connectin the cradle to the equalizing system, a weig t-supporting bracket upon the locomotive-frame at the rear of the truck and the rear cradle being restrained from verticalmovement and allowed transverse movement controlled by the han ers and swinging-links connecting the cra e with the said bracket.

13. The combination, with the frame of a locomotive, of a radial trailing-truck-frame pivoted thereto at its forward end and having side-frame members outside of the truckwheels with edestals thereon, journal-boxes mounted in t e pedestals, means for securing the journal -boxes removably, a spring mounted on each side of the frame-member and having a limited swinging movement thereon, two transverse floating cradles, at the front and rear of the truckwheels, swinging-han ers coupling them respectively to the ront and rear ends of such springs, and allowing fore-and-aft Swingin movement of the hangers and a controlled transverse movement of both cradles, and the front cradle having double-jointed links connected with an equalizing-bar of the equalizing system and having vertical movement due to the movement of such equalizing-bar.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. AUSTIN. Witnesses L. R. WRIGHT, F. WELLS. 

